So yesturday I made the decision to stop losing weight and to start maintaining it instead. I didn't just decide all of a sudden it has been taking me weeks of thinking of doing this. I came to the realization of a couple of things
I had reached a weight that is defined as normal, Im no longer in a category that unhealthy
My blood results came back normal, everything is working good
Im happy at this weight, I know if I went lower I wouldn't look good. Im glad that I decided to go further than my first goal of 150
Im ready to start toning. I have been building muscle since the start, I love my legs, my arms are taking shape and now my main concentration is my tummy!
So with that in mind I decided to stop losing weight and start to maintain it instead! Im going to be honest with everyone im scared out of my mind. I know im not going to gain the weight back because I have so much faith in myself. That is not why im scared. Im scared because everyday is going to be a new challenge and im already having to learn about myself more and more and I just don't want to become overwhelmed with all of it. So im taking it one step at a time.
I ran across an article about maintaining and I thought it was a good one about tips for how to maintain your weight
Keep problem foods you have a history of abusing out of your home. Almost all the women and a very large percentage of the men I have worked with who regained weight started the slide in their own homes. The slide often began with a food they had a history of abusing but had avoided while they were losing weight. Remember the study by researchers at the National Weight Control Registry that found that two out of three people who lose weight and keep it off keep problem foods out of their house? Although that food might not tempt you at this moment, I can't urge you strongly enough to remove it from your home or at least keep it permanently out of your sight. Remember, you're always vulnerable to the foods that have tripped you up in the past -- even on maintenance. Eventually, people tend to return to their old favorites if they are continually available. On maintenance, even more than weight loss, availability stimulates craving -- even if it doesn't happen immediately.
Set a weight ceiling, and defend it. Pick a number -- typically about 3 pounds for women, 5 pounds for men -- and don't let your weight go above it -- ever. No matter what happens, don't let yourself off the hook. Draw a line in the sand. If you see your weight going up get back on track!
Weigh yourself every day. Your bathroom scale can't weigh your behavior. However, it will tell you when you gain a pound or two. If you step on the scale the morning after a big meal at a restaurant or special event, your weight could be up. Don't be alarmed. If it's water weight, it will dissipate in 24 to 48 hours. You should expect slight variations during the week, especially after maintenance meals. If it's real weight (3 or more pounds that remain over a period of several weeks), that should be a warning to you to take immediate action.
I already write down everything I eat in a journal and I blog all my feelings here so I have that down. I already have bunches of before pictures on my fridge. I think Im going to get this down! I just have to take it one step at a time!
Sorry for the long post! If anyone has any suggestions send them my way!!! Thank you!!!
Have a wonderful Wednesday!!!!
((Sending skinny vibes to everyone))
Posted By: hey alexia
Comments to this post:
05/02/2007 13:49
Excellent advice
I think it is fun for you to have new goals, now that the weight loss part of your journey is over. Start with the tummy (core muscles), then move onto new challenges from there. I'm sure you'll have no trouble maintaining your current weight. Be prepared, however, if you gain a little by increasing your muscle mass. As long as your clothes still fit comfortably, you'll be just fine!
Congrats on the weight loss! I haven't been on this site in forever, but I think we had commented on each other's blogs in the past here and there. I just wanted to say congratulations on your success! You've overcome the hardest part and that's losing the weight and getting healthy. You'll do great at maintaining!!! Any suggestions for sticking to my weight loss plan? That's my biggest problem!
Suggestion about maintenance, not that I know or anything. But, have you read, "Thin for Life" by Anne Fletcher? If not, it's a great book and has some real pointers from people who have lost weight AND kept it off. Just a suggestion. It could help.
your maintenance plan sounds well thought out and I know you'll do just fine! those before pics on the fridge will remind you of your mission every day. Along with the Ab Ripper X dvd (have you tried it yet?) I have another one that would be perfect for you and your tummy. Core Synergetics. I won't need it for another 4 weeks so you're welcome to borrow it. I'll call you this week to see if you wanna get together.
Posted By:
05/02/2007 19:33
Excited for you!!!
I am actually excited for you to start this part of your journey!! You learned so much about yourself before.....and now you are going to learn more.
You look amazing. You are a becon of hope for someone like me who has been on this road for SO LONG and feel like I am never going to get there....but there you are telling me I am doing great along the way!! It really means something.
Keep on blogging....keep up the good work. I am so excited to be here and go through this with you....you are a ROCKSTAR!!
Don't be scared, look at it as an adventure! Weren't you a little scared when you first started to try losing weight? Maybe it's the same thing. It's hard but you will do it!
I was looking at #1 on that list of tips for maintaining. I need to not buy any more packages of marshmallows! I bought one pack thinking I would eat one serving at a time but every time I pass by that cupboard I take one marshmallow, eat it and then don't even count it. Yikes!
Well good luck to you in this endeavor! You will be so successful at it, you know you will. :)
You're on maintenance? How exciting! That blurb that you put in your post is on the dot! I cannot, I repeat, cannot have candy or cookies in the house! Otherwise, I'll eat all of them and pretend that it didn't happen!
Good luck, I know you can do it!
I have some really good ab workouts that my aerobics instructor taught me. The first time I did her ab routine, I was so sore that I couldn't sit up without using my arms the next day. Now I don't have that issue too much anymore. It's too bad that I can't show you how to do them! After you are able to do tons and tons of situps at a time, you can increase resistance to keep building strong muscles. One thing that really gets me every time: hold a dumbell on your guy while you're doing situps and all the ab exercise variations. It makes me sore every time!
congrats on making the decision to start maintaining. i'll be here rooting you along and learning from you too! i'm sure you will constantly be learning and making adjustments, but that is what weight maintenance is all about. thanks too for posting those tips - they are all things I have read before, but seeing them there in a list format is very helpful and will be useful for me too! thanks for sharing =) i'm glad to hear your dr's visit went well also! it's nice when all of your tests come back in the "normal" range. go you! =)
Those are excellent advices you shared with us. I definitely agreed with number 1 where you should keep food out of your home that can make you gain weight. I've done that and it helps a lot. It's the eating out part that I have a problem with. I think you will do great with maintenance and I feel more motivated to get my weight loss in progress after reading this blog. :)
I think it's exciting that you are now on maintenance! I'm sure it's scary, I'd be scared out of my mind, but I just have the feeling it's gonna be a BREEZE for you. You are always so positive and you have a great handle on the control part. I know you are going to do great! There might be a bump or two in the road, but that's expected in anything that we do in our lives, not just with weight loss. I am praying for you and your spirit that you feel at peace when you are now starting out on this "new" journey of maintaining it. But I just don't think you'll have any real problems at all- you have always been so aware of your emotions and feelings, I only see good days for you ahead!!! I'm so proud of you Alexia!!!
